I agree with you about Spain. They really have enormous talent, and there are much more players that you didn't even list. I think the problem with Spain is they don't have the coach that can actually get the best out of the players, although that's the problem with many national teams honestly. For sure they are dangerous, and I would say they are 7th best at the very least.
I just cannot believe its almost relatively certain that Poland and Switzerland will be SEEDED teams. Thats just dumb. No disrespect to Poland or Switzerland, but there is no way you can convince me that either of them are definitively better than Chile, Colombia, France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy.... I call bullshit lol.
I remember in 2013 everybody was saying Belgium would be one of the favorites for 2018. Now it seems like nobody is saying that.
Belgium is not a favorite. Germany, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Argentina are (if Argies qualify...). Then France. Belgium, surely does stand a chance of winning it, but not as a main contender I think.
Colombia with a healthy James and Falcao can beat anyone on the planet and I think is better than Poland. On a neutral site I think they win against the Poles a close match. (But obviously I am a bit biased.)
That maybe true, but he needs his supporting cast to prove it on the field in the World Cup. They did look pretty good in the Euros I will admit.
I doubt it will happen anytime soon, yet I would not discard chances of some outsider team succeeding in Qatar, as this is going to be somehow new experience to everyone...
The problem is teams like Japan, United States and Nigeria made huge improvements in the 1990s but can not improve enough to challenge the elite.
Yes, Japan and USA do not have the game in their blood yet, while Nigeria does not have enough resources I guess... However, as I wrote in other posts, they all still do have some chances of winning (as everyone who does compete have them in theory), although, very slim...
How long does a team have to suck for in order for them to no longer be automatic favorites? I'm thinking about Italy here 1 horrible final in 10 years of mediocrity and they're still being put alongside Germany Spain etc
James was a bench player for one of the best teams in the history of the sport. A bench player on a bench that inspired many media members and fans in Spain to ask the question.... ....Is the 2nd team for Real Madrid better than the First team????? Let's face it , when he is on his game as we saw in 2014 he is World Class and difficult for any team to stop. And that was without Falcao who was injured and has not been the same since his injury. You say he only plays well for Monaco, well he has only been healthy for Monaco. Almost every time a FIFA date comes along he has been injured. If James and Falcao are healthy and can play (and the rest of the supporting cast plays well.) I think they are better than Poland and Switzerland. It is not that outlandish to come to that conclusion.
Some happen to have one good generation (like Hungary f.e.), while others are always on the highest level. Because of the tradition, infrastructure, academies, trainers and the way people feel about this sport in said country. It's "in their blood" as someone above said. That is the case of Italy.
Dude, as a Pole, I wish you with all my heart that you'll find answer to the question if Columbia is better than Poland next year in Russia. Cheers
Don't make it seem like it is an Insult to say that a team that finished in the top 8 of the 2014 World Cup (without their Captain and leading scorer) is a little bit better than Poland on a neutral site when the team is healthy. It is just an opinion based on observations.
I meant I wish you a direct match vs Poland in Russia Looking at the player pool of both countries you cannot simply say that Columbia is better unless you're biased.
I live in Chicago and work with a lot of Poles. There's more Poles around here than there are in any other city (outside of Warsaw) on the planet my friend. Even they tell me that if Colombia is healthy they are better than Poland.
That is like saying Belgium is the best because they have one of the deepest player pools and their monetary values at the club level are very high. National team dynamics and setup are not that simple and feeble minded. There's more nuance and tactical reasoning behind it.
Other than the period from 1972 to 1986, Poland has always been poor in international competition. I have little doubts that Colombia would drop them with relative ease at the World Cup.